Curaçao (CW)
Curaçao is a Dutch Caribbean island of approximately 160,000 people situated 65km north of Venezuela, outside the Atlantic hurricane belt.
Daily Life
Practical day-to-day information for living in Curaçao.
🛒 Supermarkets
Family-owned chain serving Curaçao for over 100 years; 2 locations at Mahaai and Piscadera. Well-stocked with Dutch, Caribbean, South American and US products; in-house bakery, fresh produce, meat and international goods. Best for weekly groceries.
Budget-friendly format; good for staples, local produce and lower-priced packaged goods. Smaller range but lower prices.
One of the lowest average prices on the island (confirmed March 2025 consumer price report); two locations (Mangusa Hypermarkt and Mangusa Rio). Wide range of local and international products.
Upscale supermarket at Zeelandia and Jan Thiel; best selection of European imports, specialty foods and wine. Popular with Dutch expats. Now owned by Alphabet Holdings (Gassan Azan group) but still operating under the Van den Tweel name.
Located in the Sambil Shopping Mall; operating since 2019. Wide range of international products including fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. Good quality and diverse selection.
Opening Hours
Supermarkets: Monday–Saturday 07:30–20:00, Sunday 07:30–18:00 (Centrum) or reduced hours. Shops and malls: Monday–Saturday 09:00–18:00, Sunday 10:00–16:00 (many closed Sunday morning). Government offices: 07:30–15:30. Banks: Monday–Friday 08:00–15:30, some open Saturday morning. Many businesses close 12:00–13:00 for a midday break.
Sunday Rules
Sunday is culturally a rest and family day in predominantly Catholic Curaçao. Many locally-owned businesses close entirely on Sunday morning. Mangusa, Centrum and some Carrefour hours are reduced Sunday. Beaches, parks and restaurants are busy with local families. Catholic Mass is well-attended Sunday morning. Avoid noisy work or loud parties on Sunday mornings out of respect.
Recycling
Waste management is handled by Selikor N.V. General household waste is collected twice weekly in most areas. Basic recycling separation exists but is less developed than in the Netherlands. Recyclable plastic, glass and cardboard can be dropped off at Selikor recycling points or at selected supermarkets. Electronic waste and batteries are accepted at the Selikor drop-off centre (Malpais area). Never put batteries or electronics in general waste — illegal and toxic. Solar incentives are available through Aqualectra's net-metering programme for homeowners.
Dining Out
Curaçao has a vibrant dining scene blending Dutch, Caribbean, Venezuelan and international cuisines. Local specialties: keshi yena (stuffed Gouda cheese), stoba (stew), funchi (cornmeal porridge), fresh lionfish and tuna. Pietermaai and Otrobanda districts in Willemstad are the restaurant hubs. The Floating Market (Marché Flotante) offers fresh Venezuelan fish and produce daily from 6am. Mid-range restaurant meal for two: ANG 80–160 including drinks. Fine dining at Kura Hulanda or Gouverneur de Rouville: ANG 250–450 for two.
Utilities & Internet
Electricity and water: Aqualectra (government monopoly). Electricity uses 127V/50Hz with Type A/B US plugs — European appliances need a step-up transformer. Average monthly electricity cost: ANG 200–500 for a 2-bedroom apartment (air conditioning dominates the bill). Tap water is desalinated and officially safe to drink; most expats prefer filtered or bottled. Monthly water bill: ANG 50–100. Cooking gas (LPG) available in refillable cylinders: ANG 35–60 per exchange. Solar panels are incentivised by Aqualectra's net-metering programme.
Cultural Tips for Expats
- → Papiamentu greetings go a long way — "Bon dia" (good morning), "Bon tardi" (good afternoon) and "Danki" (thank you) are warmly received and signal genuine respect for local culture.
- → WhatsApp is how you communicate with GPs, landlords, contractors, government offices and businesses. Install it immediately and get a local number.
- → Sunday is family and church day — avoid demanding non-urgent services or hosting loud gatherings on Sunday mornings.
- → Karnaval season (January–Carnival Monday) is the social high point of the year — join in, attend the Grand Parade and respect the local tradition.
- → "Caribbean time" applies to social events and government queues; build patience into your schedule for official appointments.
- → The Floating Market (Marché Flotante) in Punda is a genuine daily market — arrive by 07:00 for the best fresh fish and produce from Venezuelan traders.
- → Curaçao has 160,000 people — everyone knows everyone. Reputation and courteous conduct matter in all dealings.
- → Reef-safe sunscreen (no oxybenzone) is expected near dive sites and beaches — conventional sunscreens damage coral reefs.
Quiet Hours
Curaçao has no single national noise ordinance equivalent to European systems. Noise rules are governed by local government ordinances, lease agreements and neighbourhood expectations. Sunday mornings are strongly respected as a quiet period by community custom. The predominantly Catholic culture means Sunday and Catholic holidays carry real social expectations around quiet.
Avoid loud music, parties and construction. Neighbourhood expectations are strong; police can be called for sustained noise disturbances under local public nuisance provisions.
Strongest community expectation for quiet. No loud parties, construction or amplified music before noon. Many residents attend church; respect is deeply felt, not just formal.
Treat as Sunday equivalents. Carnival Monday is an exception — the entire island celebrates loudly and this is socially sanctioned.
- •Hosting a late-night pool party in a residential neighbourhood on a Saturday.
- •Running loud AC maintenance or construction on Sunday morning.
- •Assuming tourist-area norms apply in local residential neighbourhoods — they do not.
Neighbour complaints, landlord warnings and, for sustained disturbances, a police visit. No fixed statutory residential noise fines at the national level; enforcement is community and landlord driven.
Postal Services
CPost International (cpostinternational.com) is the official postal operator of Curaçao. CPost provides domestic and international mail, parcel delivery and express services to 200+ destinations. Smart parcel lockers are being rolled out from 2025 as part of a major modernisation programme. For important documents and fast international delivery, DHL and FedEx also operate on the island.
CPost International is deploying community mailboxes and smart parcel lockers across Curaçao from 2025 as part of a 40-initiative modernisation roadmap (Escher consultancy, August 2025). Digital delivery notifications and electronic proof-of-delivery are being introduced. Check cpostinternational.com for current locker locations.
Bring valid photo ID (passport or Cédula de Identidad) to collect parcels and registered mail from the CPost counter. For bank and government registration, Dutch Caribbean residence documentation and tax number (CRIB) apply.
CPost International offers tracked domestic and international registered mail with signature confirmation. For legal, banking and immigration documents, use CPost tracked services or DHL/FedEx with full chain-of-custody documentation. Retain tracking confirmations for any official correspondence.
CPost International can arrange mail forwarding for moves within the island. For returning to the Netherlands or moving abroad, notify the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP) equivalent on Curaçao (Registro Civil), your bank and employer directly. Netherlands-based PostNL does not serve Curaçao directly.
- →For US online shopping, some expats use Miami freight-forwarder addresses; confirm duties and customs before ordering.
- →DHL and FedEx offer express international shipping from Curaçao to most destinations.
- →Sign up for CPost digital notifications to be alerted when parcels arrive rather than making unnecessary trips.
- →Customs duties apply to imported parcels; declare values accurately and retain purchase invoices.